Bucs jump 10 spots in latest USA TODAY power rankings

Few expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to leave New Orleans with a Week 1 win over the Saints, and none expected them to do it with 48 points and a legendary performance from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

USA TODAY’s initial power rankings for the 2018 NFL season had he Bucs ranked the third-worst team in the league, but after Sunday’s epic shootout win over the defending NFC South champs, Tampa Bay jumped up to the No. 20 spot in the updated list.

The new rankings point out that Sunday’s offensive output is something that has never happened with Jameis Winston at the helm. Winston is currently serving a three-game suspension, and some wonder if Fitzpatrick might retain the starting job if he continues to play at such a high level.

Strangely enough, despite the home defeat to a two-score underdog, the Saints retained a top-10 spot in the rankings, falling just four spots to No. 9.

Tampa Bay’s leap up the USA TODAY rankings was the second-highest jump of the week, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs, who ascended 11 spots.